Mangalore: Kateel Temple Priest Charged with Assault on Woman

Daijiworld News Network/May 24, 2005

Mangalore -- It is being proved daily that people who enjoy high positions in the religious set-up have become power and money- centric forgetting blatantly the prime duty of thiers, that is, service to the humanity. In most of the cases the ever-pathetic casteism is their gift to a particular religion and society in general.

This was very well proved by Harinarayan Asranna, one of the archaks of Shri Durgaparameshwari temple, Kateel. He is reported to have beaten up a woman with a belt after locking her up in a room on Saturday May 21 night.

The Tale of Pride and Woe

Shanta (45), a housewife from the close vicinity of Kateel temple has been a regular visitor to the temple for many years now. As has been always her routine, she had come on Saturday to the temple. After the pooja when she came to annachhatra (place where food is served) to collect prasadam, Harinarayana Asranna did not allow her to receive it. At this Shanta told Asranna that she does not require his permission to receive prasadam which is considered as God's gift.

Enraged at this Asranna went back without uttering anything further. Later on he called a boy named Lakshmisagar whom he knows well and sent a word to Shanta to come to meet him. Once she came, she took her to a room where he beat her up with a leather belt.

Having been injured by Asranna's lashing, Shanta alias Mandodari has now lodged a compalint against Asranna in the Bajpe police station. But the initial reports said that the police have ignore her in a bid to stand with Asranna whose dynasty has been serving the temple for long.